Diamond cutter&#39;s tong and guide



Oct. 3l, 1950 J. sPlRA DIAMOND cuTTDRs ToNG AND GUIDE Fiied May 11, 194e I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T n@ Nn 8% mw m @QT i mm mm wm E. TQ QQN @D QQ 1R k f D m91 l @n NNI- Q@ @l/ QR N1\ QQN 0 i|mQ Sq mm @QN QN SN l QQD\ Di w wml l mw Nm m .T H l lq .gl

Oct. 31, 1950 J, sPlRA 2,527 ,592

' DIAMOND CUTTERS TONG AND GUIDE Filed May 1l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Josj S/ozfa ATTORNEY M 7 Oct. 31, 1950 J. sPlRA DIAMOND cuTTER's TDNG AND GUIDE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1l, 1946 lNvENToR josef joz'fa BY /16 j?. aww/AM? @ATTORNEY "issued January 29, 1946;

Patented Oct. 31, Y195() UNITED Y STATES @TENT OFFICE 2,527,552u a DIAMOND CUTTERs roNG AND GUIDE Josef spira, NewYork, NQ Y. nppiieaueniuay n, 194s, seriaiNg. '659,033

This invention relates to a diamond polishing device; more particularly, to a diamond polishers tong and guide. This application aims to carry out certain phases of my invention Serial No. 643,301, led January 25, 1946, as a division of my application Serial No. 437,056, now Patent No. 2,393,939,

and' including also means to restrain the dop carrier in its gravitational descent beyond a predetermined depth so that constant attendance need not be involved. This procedure Vdistinguishes from the established practice of constant inspection of the cutting, polishing or facetting operations.`

As desirable as this operation may be with the pendulum type of assembly, diamond polishers who are schooled in the tong method of holding the dop oppose the use of the pendulum holder and contend that the tong, With the facility of inspection this device offers, is productive of more perfect facets. It is acknowledged however, that this type of apparatus is not productive quantitatively because of the need for constant supervision, also entirely occupying the operators hands, whereby he cannot leave the dop in polishing position unattended.

Known to me are the tendencies by diamond workers, using tongs, to weight these elements to eliminate the fatigue occasioned by bearing down on the tongs. Such procedure minimizes the ability for quick inspection of the work either because of the time to take the weights off from the tongs in lifting the tongs for inspection, or in lifting the weighted tong itself.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a tong and guide assembly therefor characterized by the features of indicating to the worker when the dop is properly oriented, and including means whereby the guide assembly may be employed to limit the gravitational descent of the dop beyond a predetermined position.

It is contemplated further by my invention to provide a tong and a guide therefor to give indication of whether or not the` diamond has been oriented in respect of the skeif or lap, for most efficient cutting.

' n is stili further an gravitational influence 'of the tong with respect to the lap or skeif may be augmented While permitting rapid release of this influence, to vfacilitate inspection of the work.

Still further objects of my invention reside in the provision of a tong and a guide therefor whereby predetermined depth of movement of the tongPi may be measured, and to indicatethe proper orientation of. the dop with its work with respect to the skeif or lap. l

My invention accordingly aims to make avail-- able the employment of diamond cutters tongs 'for polishing diamonds, whereby these dop holding devices may be employed to accelerate the diamond facetting and polishing operations, and to accomplish this work more economically.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be Ahereinafter pointed out, I make reference tothe accompanying drawings, forming'a part hereof, in Which-'- Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a diamond workers bench, showing a skeif lwith my tong and guide in position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, with portions in section; before moving the tong in limit- Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of s Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a vtong guide.

Making reference to the drawing, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a diamond workers bench ID, which has a well I I adjacent the skeif, lap or turntable I2. It is over this bench that the diamond worker may guide a dop holding tong, resting one end of the tong on the benchwhile holding the diamond on the revolving polishing surface.

In the illustration, a tong arm I3 is provided. This is preferably of squared machine stock; to provide true rectilinear upper, side and bottom guiding surfaces, for purposes which will appear hereinafter. i

The forward end I4 of thetong arm I3 is provided with a bearing portion I5, terminating into spaced extension lugs I6, joined by the tensioning screw I1. In the bearing I5 there is' iournalled the shaft I8 for the dop carrier I9. The shaft I3 extends into the indexing disk 20, keyed to the shaft I8 by a spline 2|, the washer 22 and the screw 23. The dop carrier I9 is object of my invention to l provide atong and guide assembly whereby-the i 'and formed with a knurled head 62,

spring leaves 33, to act as detents to hold the sleeve 29 frictionally in the collar 26, while permitting rotatable movement. The sleeve 29 axially mounts the dop assembly 34 for rotational adjustment. This dop assembly very closely follows either the pavilion dop in accordance with my invention, now Patent No. 2,393,939, or may employ a bezel dop in accordance with the divisional application thereof Serial No. 643,301.

In the illustration given, the gem D, which has a, cylindrical bezel forming portion in the unnishedstate, is held by the jaws 35, formed on the adapter sleeve 36 by slotting the same. A backing rod31has one of its ends positioned adjustably 4`between'the jaws 35 to engage the table forming portion of the gem D. The backing rod 31 terminates in a cylindrical shank 38, housed in the xadjusting screw 39 threaded in the sleeve 40 to theV rear of the adapter 36. In this way the gem D may be projected the desired distance beyond the jaws 35, to form all the pavilion facets without releasing the diamond.

. l"'I'he adapter 36 is housed in the stern 4I. This .stem is slitted to-outline a plurality of jaws 42, atleast `three in number and in position corresponding to the jaws of the adapter sleeve 36 and are formed with conical protuberances merging into tapered sections, to form a tapered nose, asr in my patent aforementioned.

-v The stem 4I terminates in a threaded section .43, cooperating with the knurled nut 44 to bear .upon lthe vsleeve 45 at one end, urging the end -461'against the tapered nose, to effect clamping action of the gem D. The dop assembly just described is keyed to the sleeve 29 by the frictional detent means described. The sleeve 29 and the .dop 'assembly may be indexed in relation to the collar 26 in a manner which will be readily understood.

.III

The arm I3, at its rear portion 41, is provided -l 'with a downwardly directed branch 48, recessed at 49, and terminating into spaced guide shoulfde'rs 50. The spaced shoulders 50 cooperate to hold the frame 5I comprising an elbow 52,`

.through which a pin 53 passes, and enters the spaced shoulders 58 pivotally to support the frame The arm 54 of the frame is housed with- Ai'n therecess 49. Y A coiled expanding spring 55 -is braced against the branch 48 and the arm 54 normally to tilt the frame 5I in a clockwise direction. The frame 5I terminates into side arms 56 v'and 51, each of which is formed with downwardly directed ngers 58, 58, between which rollers 59 are pivotally mounted.

'-1 The fra-me 5I has a seat 68 engaged by the adjusting screw 6I passing through the end 41 The adjusting screw 6I may be employed to level the arm VI3 byapplying a spirit level to the upper surface -oi' the tong arm I3 in a manner which will be readilyunderstood by the skilled diamond worker, `inbrder that the arm may be properly oriented -in performing the polishing step, when the diayrnoridwis os'cillated radially along the lap or skeif i The tong armV is guided radially by providing its end portion 41 with an extension rod 63, screw threaded thereinto at 64. The extension rod is axially positioned with regard to the arm I3 and is designed to engage the forward portion of the standard 65, extended from the bracket 66 bolted to the table I0 by the bolts 61.

The secondary guide will now be described and comprises a bracket 68, the base of which 69 is bolted to the table Il) by the bolts 10. A standard 1I is formed with a slot 12 to receive the pin 13 and bolt 14, extending through the bar upon which the guide block and indicator assembly is mounted. The pin 13 and bolt 14 are arranged to be slidably received within the slot 12, a knurled nut 16 for the bolt 14 being employed to tension the bolt 14 to hold the bar and standard in relative adjusted position in accordance with the height desired, as will more clearly appear hereinafter. l

The bar 15 supports a cross arm 11 in a xed position. The cross arm 11 has an abutting end 18 acting as a stop and cooperates with the arm I3.to engage the rear face 19 thereof to hold the arm I3 with its axial line radial, thus cooperating with the standard 65 to guide the tong assembly radially as the skeif I2 rotates against the gem D held by the dop. The cross arm 11 acts as an abutment and the standard 65 restrains the arm I 3 from any pivotal displacement, so that the tong may be oscillated radially to perform the polishing operation as recognized by the skilled diamond worker.

It will be understood that the tong assembly, as the facet is formed, will gravitate while in contact with the abutment 18 under the weight of the assembly about the rollers 59 as a center. To augment the gravitational force, I provide a pressure arm 88 pivoted to the bar 15 by the pin 8I. The pressure arm has a contacting nger 82 arranged to engage the upper surface 83 of the arm I3. A clearance surface84 assures substantial linear contact of the pressure point 82 with the surface 83.

The pressure arm 88 is formed with a camming surface 85, engaged by the shoe 86, slidable in the socket 81 of the lever 88 which is pivoted about the pin 89, mounted on the bar 15. A coiled spring 98 normally urges the shoe 86 outwardly and acts to provide the desired pressure upon the arm 80. The end 9| of the lever 88 is oscillated in order to tilt the same and force the shoe S6 along the camming surface 85. The camming surface 85 is eccentric with relation to the center through the pin 89, and is extended as well to terminate into an abrupt shoulder 92.

The off-balance position of the pressure arm 80 on the pin 8l serves to function as follows:

As the arm 88 is pivoted clockwise when viewed in Figure 5, the shoe 86, in riding along the camming surface 85, will augment the gravitational force on the arm I3. The greater the axial displacement of the arm 88, the greater will be the pressure imposed on the arm I3. As the lever 88 is pivoted c0unter-clockwise,the shoe 86, in being urged toward the abutment 92, will lift the pressure point 82 from engagement with the arm I 3, including an extreme position completely clearing the contacting nger 82 out of the path of the arm I3,l so that the tong may be bodil elevated for inspection.

I may minimize the gravitational effect on the tong assembly as well as to secure additional features hereinafter described by a supporting mem.- ber 93, which is pivoted to the bar 15 by the pivot pin 94. The supporting arm 93 has its end formed with a contacting end 95, a clearance Surface 96 serving to assure a linear contact of the contacting end 95 with the under surface 91 of the cross arm I3. The supporting member 93 has its rearward end 99 provided with an adjusting screw 99, which is threadedly mounted in the supporting arm 93. A knurled head acts against the friction spring IBI, to hold the set screw 99 in any adjusted position. The contacting end I02 of the adjusting screw 99 is faced upwardly toward the offset section ID3 on the cross arm TI.

It will be observed that as the tong assembly rests on the supporting arm 93, the limiting position to which the tong assembly may drop is determined by the extensiveness of the adjusting screw 99, so that upon reaching a position where the contacting end H32 engages the offset I 03, further descent of the tong arm about the roller 59 will be restrained. Furthermore, the extensiveness of the drop of the arm I3 may be measured and other benefits hereinafterdescribed secured.

For this purpose, the arm TI adjacent the offset I 03 is provided with a depth gauge i041, whose Xed sleeve I05 passes through the cross bar I'I and is maintained in fixed position by the set screw |06. The plunger arm |01 of the pressure gauge has its head H08 arranged to engage the upper surface of the end 98 of the supporting arm 93. The depth gauge reading'will be indicated by the needle H39, whose dial III) may be shifted to a reference position by the adjusting knob III.

The depth gauge I may be employed to read the drop of the tong arm I3 as it rides on the pivoted supporting arm 93. It will be observed, however, that as in my parent application, there is a direct contact between the diamond D through the dop, the cross arm I3, the supporting arm 93 to the head IIJ8 of the depth gauge. The operator, in orienting the dop in accordance with the grain of the diamond can, by this means, determine whether or not he has successfully oriented the grain to effect a cutting and polishing action upon the particular portion to have a facet formed.

I have discovered that by an lassembly which permits an undampened transmittal of the vibrations from the lap or skeif through the diamond and the dop to the head of the depth gauge, the activity of the needle |08 will determine whether the operator has found a position of the diamond with relation to the skeif that the cutting or polishing operation will be accomplished. I have discovered that as the operator Orients the dop about the shaft I 8, he can tell whether he has oriented the grain for cutting action by observing the needle |09. If the needle IIIB vibrates vigorously, by my installation embodying the features to an extent disclosed in my parent application, the operator knows that the grain has not been properly adjusted and no cutting or polishing action is secured. The operator may then continue orientation of the dop about the axis through the shaft I9. As the vibration of the needle |09 subsides, the best cutting position is ascertained, as a minimum Vibration will be evident and the only reading will be to ascertain the depth of cut as the dop, with its gem, gravitates.

The operator, by inspection, may observe on the depth gauge the best position necessary to secure the proper facetting operation for one facet. He may thereupon set the adjusting screw 99 so that it is xed thereafter as the limiting depth for the series of facets of that particular diamond. The operator may then index the dia- -mond from one facet to another with regard to one circumferential band of symmetrical facets.

After indexing to a new facet and locating the grain for cutting and polishing, the operator may thereupon rely upon the supporting arm 93 to determine the limiting position to which the dop will drop. The operator may thereupon leave the tong assembly with the diamond in the dop, unattended without danger of over-cutting the diamond and need no-t remove the dop from its Contact with the lap.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a diamond workers bench or the like having a lap including uprights thereon serving as guides radially to guide a tong as it is slid on the bench substantially toward and from the center of the lap, one of said guides including a pivoted arm thereon extended to one side of said guide to engage the tong, a camming surface on said arm eccentrically positioned, a manually operable lever on said guide, a resiliently directed shoe carried by said lever engaging said camming surface whereby manual operation of said lever will augment the pressure on said tong in one position and will lift the arm from engagement with the tong in another position.

JOSEF SPIRA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PATENTS 

